Workationners: Toward a Proposed Typology[Les tracanciers, vers une proposition de typologie]

Contraction of "work" and "vacations," workations—or workationning—refer to the blending of work and vacation periods in the same timeframe and in a location (typically) reserved for leisure. This practice generates new forms of interaction between work and tourism. The motivations for engaging in workationning can be diverse and vary depending on individual profiles. Although this practice, referred to in English as workations, is increasingly documented in the literature (Voll et al., 2023; Vogl & Micek, 2023; Matsushita, 2023), the profiles of individuals adopting it remain relatively unknown. In other words, current definitions tend to be more generic than specific. To address this gap and relying both on existing research and a field study conducted with such populations, our proposal aims to develop a more refined typology than that proposed by some authors (Bassyiouni et al., 2023). Theoretical Framework The theoretical framework of this proposal is rooted firstly in the study of new work modes induced by the digitization of the economy. The research of Benedetto-Meyer and Klein (2012) as well as Ozimek (2020) synthesizes the numerous implications of the rise of information and communication technologies (ICT) on remote work, notably the blurring of boundaries between work and non-work. Secondly, we draw from the field of "mobility studies" (Adey, 2017). Finally, studies on the embedding and territorial integration of individuals and socio-economic activities are leveraged to interpret relationships with destination territories (Czernek-Marszałek, 2020). Methodology We adopted a mixed-methods approach, combining the analysis of a dozen research articles addressing workationning with the results of a qualitative survey based on semi-structured interviews with twenty individuals engaged in workationning. Following a thematic analysis, five main criteria were identified to construct the typology: i. degree of hybridization between work and vacation, ii. type of mobility, iii. type of accommodation, iv. degree of local integration, v. objectives sought by the workationners. Discussion of Results From an individual perspective, the results reveal diversity in the practice of workationning, which we propose to classify into five archetypes: - Home-based workers: Individuals working from their primary residence during their vacation period, resulting in a low degree of hybridization between work and leisure. - Second-home residents: These individuals utilize their second homes for work purposes. This practice is typically routine and characterized by a moderate degree of hybridization. - Digital nomads: This group establishes themselves in spaces designed for nomadic work while engaging in itinerant tourism. These geo-independent individuals, forming identifiable communities, are particularly attuned to territorial amenities and exhibit a high degree of hybridization. - Tourist-workationners: These individuals work intermittently in locations primarily dedicated to tourism (e.g., hotels, vacation rentals, lodges). The temporality and site choice suggest a low hybridization in favor of leisure. - Connected tourists: Tourists engaging in telework or microtasks (e.g., answering emails) during their stay. The hybridization degree in this case is low. Like any typology, this one has limitations. Individuals may transition between workationning situations, and there exists a continuum among the presented categories. Furthermore, for most workationners, these practices are temporary. It is also essential to distinguish the capacity to adopt this practice from the willingness to do so.